Sargent Investment Group LLC Boosts Position in Saul Centers, Inc. (NYSE:BFS)

Sargent Investment Group LLC boosted its position in Saul Centers, Inc. (NYSE:BFS) by 315.0% during the 3rd quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The firm owned 25,001 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock after purchasing an additional 18,976 shares during the period. Sargent Investment Group LLC’s holdings in Saul Centers were worth $1,049,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

A number of other large investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Renaissance Technologies LLC raised its stake in shares of Saul Centers by 10.2% in the second quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 228,474 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock worth $8,401,000 after buying an additional 21,100 shares during the period. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP increased its holdings in Saul Centers by 2.6% in the 2nd quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 209,840 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock worth $7,715,000 after acquiring an additional 5,330 shares in the last quarter. Millennium Management LLC purchased a new position in Saul Centers during the second quarter valued at approximately $3,272,000. AQR Capital Management LLC lifted its holdings in Saul Centers by 115.0% during the second quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 59,675 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock valued at $2,194,000 after purchasing an additional 31,919 shares in the last quarter. Finally, GSA Capital Partners LLP increased its stake in shares of Saul Centers by 17.1% in the third quarter. GSA Capital Partners LLP now owns 43,083 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock worth $1,808,000 after purchasing an additional 6,301 shares in the last quarter. 49.99% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Saul Centers Price Performance

Shares of BFS stock traded down $0.18 during trading hours on Thursday, hitting $40.05. The stock had a trading volume of 15,176 shares, compared to its average volume of 52,893. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 4.61, a current ratio of 1.13 and a quick ratio of 1.13. The stock has a market capitalization of $968.01 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.88 and a beta of 1.11. Saul Centers, Inc. has a one year low of $34.87 and a one year high of $42.39. The stock’s 50-day moving average price is $40.47 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $38.69.

Saul Centers Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, October 31st. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, October 15th were paid a $0.59 dividend. This represents a $2.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 5.89%. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, October 15th. Saul Centers’s payout ratio is 128.26%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of brokerages have issued reports on BFS. B. Riley increased their price target on Saul Centers from $43.50 to $45.50 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, August 22nd. StockNews.com cut Saul Centers from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Friday, November 8th.

Saul Centers Profile

Saul Centers is a self-managed, self-administered equity REIT headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland. Saul Centers currently operates and manages a real estate portfolio comprised of 61 properties that includes (a) 57 community and neighborhood Shopping Centers and Mixed-Use properties with approximately 9.8 million square feet of leasable area and (b) four land and development properties.